Decorator kit



July 16, 1968 D. R. EVERHRT DECORATOR KIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 13, 1966 INVENTOR @ma/a camfe/'a/v July 16, 1968 D. R. EvERl-umT 3,392,462

DECORATOR KIT Filed Jan. 13, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet :E

l l (f l y a ATToRNs United States Patent O M' 3,392,462 DECORA'IOR KIT Donald Richard Everhart, 6114 W. 68th St., Overland Park, Kans. 66204 Filed Jan. 13, 1966, Ser. No. 520,332 4 Claims. (Cl. 35-16) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE An assembly in kit form is utilized to form a model of a room or wall configuration of a home or building. The assembly includes a number of rectangular frames into which wall sections or panels are inserted to create the room. The various wall sections are of different sizes and may be provided with openings therein to simulate windows. Adjacent frames are joined by a stud provided with locking lugs receivable within T-slots in the ends of the horizontal members of the wall frames.

This invention relates to an assembly in kit form which is utilized to form a model of a room or wall configuration of a home or building in order to provide a means by which an interior decorator can produce a model of the configuration so that a proposed decor can be illustrated to a customer by a 3-dimensional representation.

Assembly kits proposed heretofore for constructing models of Wall and fioor plans for the purpose of illustrating an architectural scheme or a decor plan are satisfactory insofar as providing a model of one particular wall configuration which the assembly is arranged to represent. However, such prior art kits have not been designed in a manner to provide for rapid disassembly thereof when it is desired to form a different wall configuration which, of course, would be a necessity in the interior decorating field where a decorator must service a number of customers speedily and efficiently.

It is, therefore, the primary object of this invention to provide an assembly for forming a model of a wall configuration from a kit of preformed parts, in a manner such that the configuration may be readily changed to form another wall structure of different design as desired.

As a corollary to the foregoing object, it is an important aim of this invention to provide such an assembly for use in creating a model of a room so that an interior decorator can place and arrange miniature models of pieces of furniture in the model room to illustrate to a customer the decorative effect that will be produced when the actual room is furnished.

A further object is to provide an assembly including a frame and a number of wall sections which may be inserted in the frame in a manner to produce a model of a wall regardless of the number, type and location of windows or doors in the wall, and to additionally provide structural elements which may be employed to interconnect a number of such frames of varying sizes in a manner to form a model of an entire room regardless of irregularities in the wall configuration thereof.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing a model room formed by the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a corner joint of the wall configuration shown in FIG. l, parts being broken away to reveal details of construction;

FIG. 3 is a detail view showing one end of one of the frames of the assembly;

FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating the manner in which the various frames are interconnected;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional View taken along line 5 5 of FIG. 4; and

3,392,462 Patented July 16, 1968 FIG. 6 is a detail, plan View illustrating the formation of a bay window by the components of the instant in- Vention.

Referring initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, the numerals 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e and 10)c designate the six rectangular frames employed in the construction of the model room. FIGURE 2 illustrates the interconnection of frames 10b and 10c at one of the corners of the room. Each frame comprises a pair of elongated, vertically spaced, horizontal members 12 and 14 Which may be of metal or plastic construction. The upper member 12 is of inverted, U-shaped configuration transversely thereof and has a bight 16 integral with a pair of spaced legs 18 and 20. Bight 16 is in the form of an elongated, horizontally extending plate integral with the legs 20 and 18 which form a depending fiange and a downturned lip, respectively. Similarly, the lower member 14 is of transverse, U-shaped configuration and has a bight forming a horizontal baseplate 22 integral with a pair of legs 24 and 26 defining an upturned lip and an upwardly extending flange, respectively.

A pair of elongated, upright, plate-like elements 28 are integral with fianges 20 and 26 at the opposed ends of members 12 and 14, thereby structurally interconnecting the members and forming a rectangular frame configuration. Member 12 is provided with an insert in the form of an elongated, wooden or plastic block 30 which is held between lip 18 and fiange 20 and against the underside of plate 16 by screws 32. Similarly, a block insert 34 is received by lip 24 and flange 26 of member 14 and is seated against the upper surface of baseplate 22 and held in place by screws. It should be noted that the lower margin of lip 18 and the upper margin of lip 24 clear respective blocks 30 and 34, thereby presenting a pair of projections which extend the entire length of the frame.

The various frames 10a10f forming the room illustrated in FIG. l support a number of wall sections or panels 36 which have inner surfaces representing the wall surface of the room being represented by the model. This may, of course, be a fiat finish, a paneled effect, or a Wallpaper pattern. A number of sections 36 of various finishes and horizontal lengths are provided in order that the wall configuration of the room may be duplicated.

For example, it may be seen that frame 10a carries two wall sections 36 having another wall section 38 disposed therebetween provided with a rectangular opening 40 which is configured to represent a window. Similarly, frame 10b is provided with a window-containing section 38 located between a pair of wall sections 36. Continuing around the room in a clockwise fashion, frames 10c, 10d, 10e and 10)c are each provided with a single wall section 36. However, it should be noted that the various frames 10c-10f are of different horizontal lengths and are provided with wall sections which are also of correspondingly different lengths. This enables any desired wall configuration to be reproduced.

Additionally, it may be seen at the right end of FIG. 1 that frames 10d and 10e are coupled with a |wall segment 42 in the form of an upright panel having a rectangular opening 44 therein configured to represent a doorway. A relatively thin strip 46 at the lower margin of segment 42 forms a part of the base thereof and bridges opening 44 to increase the structu-ral rigidity of segment 42 -without detracting from the appearance of opening 44 as a doorway.

Each of the wall sections 36 has a lhorizont-al, upper edge 48 and a horizontal, lower edge '50 which are received by lip 18 and flange 20 and lip 24 and fiange 26, respectively, of the frame upon insertion of the Wall section thereinto. This is particularly illustrated in FIG. 2 where it may be seen that the ends of each frame are 3 open, permitting ready insertion of a Wall section or sections 36 thereinto. Additionally, each section 36 has a pair of opposed side margins S2 vwhich abut the side margins of adjacent sections 36 or 38 when several sections are utilized in one `frame to create the desired representation.

Interconnection of a pair of frames at a corner is illustrated in detail for frames b and 10c (FIG. 2). An elongated, upright, structural element 54 in the form of a corner stud is utilized and is provided with two pairs of -headed fasteners or lugs 56 projecting toward frame 10b and 10c respectively. The ends of each member 12 are each provided with a downturned end plate 60 integral lwith plate 16, and a T-slot 62 is formed in plates 16 and 60 as is clear in FIG, 3. Similarly, the ends of each member 14 are each provided with an end plate 64 having a central, vertical slot 66 therein communicating with a notch 68 in block 34. Thus, slots 62 and 66 in members 12 and 14 of frame 10b receive one pair of lugs 56 of element 54 and form a seat therefor, while the other pair of lugs displaced 90 therefrom are received by the slots 62 and 66 in the members of frame 10c.

FIGURES 4 and 5 illustr-ate the use of the instant inventi-on in forming a multiple room assembly, where it is necessary to provide a corner joint -at which more than two frames are interconnected. Frames 10g, 10h and 10j are shown interconnected by a structural element or stud 54a identical in construction to element 54, except that element 54a is provided with four vertically-spaced pairs of lock-ing lugs 56 rather than two pairs. It may be noted that element 54a is of square cross section and thus adjacent lug pairs are disposed at angles of 90. Three of the pairs of lugs 56 of element 54a are utilized to interconnect the three frames 10g, 10h and 10j as illustrated to form a T junction, the various lugs interlocking the frames in the same manner as described above. Additionally, FIG. 4 illustrates the use of a structural element 54b having opposed pairs of lugs 56, which is otherwise identical to elements 54 and 54a. Element 54b is utilized as a center stud to join two frames 1011 and 10k which are part of the same wall stretch. This is also illustr-ated in FIG. 1 where a center stud 54b is illustrated interconnecting frames 10e and 10f. It will be understood that, in FIG. 4, only the upper lug of each lug pair is visible in the drawing.

FIGURE 5 shows the joint formed by stud 54a in cross section, and illustrates the manner in which lugs 56 seat in T slots 62 in members 12 and slots 66 in members 14. It will be appreciated that end plates 60 and 64 are sandwiched between the heads of respective lugs 4and the body of stud 54a, thereby precluding relative horizontal movement of the stud and the frames joined thereto. However, -when it is desired to disassemble the structure, stud 54a may be lifted vertically, thereby shifting lugs 56 clear of the respective slots to uncouple the frames. All of the various stud configurations illustrated herein are utilized in identically the same manner and, therefore, permit rapid assembly and disassembly of the kit components.

FIGURE 6 illustr-ates the manner in which a bay window is formed by the instant invention. In an assembly kit for use by interior decorators, a number of wall segments such as illustrated at 70 would be provided in addition to the various sizes of frames and door-containing wall segments 42. Each segment 70 is provided with an opening 72 in a vertical plane configured to form a bay window section. Three segments 70 are utilized to form one bay window, in conjunction with -fou'r 45 studs 74. Studs 74 are similar to studs 54-54b, except that each stud 74 has a generally pie-shaped cross-sectional configuration so as lto present two adjacent sides to form a 45 angle. As illustrated in FIG. 6, these sides each have a pair of locking lugs 56 projecting therefrom (only the upper lug being visible in FIG. 6) for connection to the ladjacent segment 70 or an adjacent `wall frame 10m. Segments 70, as well as the door-containing well segment 42, are provided with slots or seats as illustrated in FIGS. 1-5 and described hereinabove which receive the locking lugs 56.

In forming a kit of components employing the teachings of the instant invention, it ywill be appreciated that the various frames and wall panel sections 36 will be scaled to represent widely used lengths commonly employed in the building art. Thus, by providing several different frame sizes, a room or wall configuration can be reproduced to nearly scale accuracy. Furthermore, depending on the particular application, a number of different window configurations and sizes could be provided for sections 38, attention being directed to the fac-t that the large, rectangular, vertical opening defined by members 12 and 14 and elements 28 of each frame precludes possible obstruction of windows 40 regardless of the particular disposition of window sections 38. Therefore, the model room as viewed from the interior thereof presents a finished appearance and may be utilized to demonstrate suggested furniture arrangemnts when employed in conjunction with a base (not shown) having a surface finish that represents the flooring or carpeting of the actual room.

To form a wall stretch, the frame of proper size is utilized and the appropriate wall sections 36 or 38 are inserted thereinto at the open ends of the frame. As is particularly evident in FIG. 2, the wall sections are received by the lips and flanges of members 12 and 14 and slide into the frame in contact with the facing surfaces of blocks 30 and 34. Thus, assembly and disassembly may be rapidly effected, and the lips and flanges 18, 20 and 24, 26 positively preclude lremoval of the sections from the frame except at the ends thereof. Also, the side margins 52 of the various sections are provided with a vertical groove 53 which forms a clearance opening permitting insertion of lugs 56 into slots 62 and 66 with the adjacent wall section ush against the interconnect ing stud 54, 54a, or 54h as the case may be.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. An assembly for forming a model of a wall configuration comprising:

a plurality of wall sections representing the wall configuration to be formed;

a plurality of upright frames each removably supporting at least one of said sections, and each having structure permitting selective positioning of the sections therein in accordance with the appearance of said configuration, whereby each frame and the section or sections supported thereby form a horizontally extending Wall stretch; and

means interconnecting said frames in horizontally spaced relationship and in a manner to dispose the wall stretches in a configuration reproducing arrangement to thereby form said model,

each of said wall sections having a pair of opposed, up-

per and lower edges,

each of said frames including a pair of vertically spaced, elongated, generally horizontally extending members presenting said structure thereof and receiving the edges of the section or sections supported by the frame for sliding movement of the section or sections longitudinally of the members,

said interconnecting means including an elongated, up-

right structural element interconnecting a pair of adjacent frames,

each member of Said adjacent frames having an end `proximal to the element,

said element being provided with means releasably interlocking the element and said proximal ends, whereby to secure said adjacent frames together.

2. The invention of claim 1,

said interconnecting means including a wall segment 5 6 having an opening therein configured to represent a venting relative horizontal movement of the element doorway, and Said adjacent frames, while permitting relative said segment being disposed between a pair of adjacent vertical movement of the element and each of said frames and intercoupling the latter. adjacent frames to unseat the fasteners. 3. The invention of claim 1, 5 said interconnecting means including a plurality of in- References Cted terconnected wall segments each having an opening UNITED STATES PATENTS therein configured to represent a window section, 1,106,162 8/1914 Rothig sald segments being angularly dlsposed with respect to 1 398 852 11/1921 Gilbert 46 19 X one another and the adjacent wall sections in a man- 10 204:319 6/1940 Parsom Der t0 represent a bay Window 3,269,034 8/1966 Glass 35 .16 X

4. The invention of claim 1,

said interlocking means including two pair-s of vertical- FOREIGN PATENTS ly spaced fasteners extending laterally from said ele- 52,063 8/1936 Denmark: ment toward respective adjacent frames in horizontal l5 614,245 12/1948 Great Entamalignment with the upper and lower members there- I of, and means on said proximal ends receiving re- EUGENE R' CAPOZIO Primary Examiner spective fasteners and presenting a seat therefor pre- H. S. SKOGQUIST, Assistant Examiner. 

